Absorbing, condensing, and purifying apparatus.



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JOHN F. BHOADES, or MILLINOCKET, MAINE.

ABSORBING, CONDENSIN 'Q-AND PURIFYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Decemberl'i', 1914. Serial No. 877,757.

in the art to which it appertains to'make and use the same. 7

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for absorbing, condensing and purifying liquids or gases and resides in the provision of such apparatusthat is particularly designed for making sulfurous acid (H SOQ by an intermittent process but may be used for such purposes as scrubbing gas orfor condensing Or other purifying purposes.

Another object of my inventionis to provide apparatus that is built up of a number of units, each unit being capable of independent use and constructed to operate in conjunction with any number of similiar units dependent upon the character of use of the apparatus as a whole.

Another object is to providesimply con- I structed apparatus that may be operated at an extremely low cost for various absorbing. purifying and condensing purposes and which will prove extremely effective in usel The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described inthe following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

With reference to the drawinga'wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it isreduced to practice,

and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding partsl igure 1 IS a view partly in elevation and insection of my improved 5 apparatus. and Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the strainers.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference A and B designate similar units of construction that are operatively associated with one another and a storage unit C. I have illustrated two units connected with the storage unit forming a'complete plant but it is to be understood that any number of units may be connected with one another and the storage unit C or a single unit used if desired. In View of the fact that both the units illustrated are similar as to constructlon, 1t 1s thought necessary to describe only one of them, the one A being chosen:

The unit A comprises a closedupper tank 1 that is formed with a frust-o-conical bottom wall Q and is connected by a vertical suction pipe 3,to a lower closed tank 4. The pipe 3 is extended well into the tank 4 and establishes a communication between the tanks 2 and a. The lower end of the tank 4 is formed offrusto-conical shape as at 5 anda pipe 6 leads from the lower end 5 of the tank 1 to a suction pump designated 7 as an entirety. A base or support Sis provided for the pump 7. Leading from the pump 7 to'the tank 1 is a vertical return pipe Q that at its upper end is communicated with a discharge pipe 10 which extends through theupper end of the tank 1 into the tank upon one side thereof.

I provide a gas or vapor pipe 11 that isdisposed above the tank 2 and is providedwith a downwardly directed end 12 which is con nected to and communicates with the tank 2. A cut out'valve 13 is mounted in the pipe 9 adjacent to its lower end and a similar valve 14 is connected with the pipe 3 adjacent to its lower end but at a point above the tank 4; An overflow pipe 15 is connected at its Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

ends with the upper end of the tank 4 and with the tank 1. The pipe 15 extends upwardly through the bottom wall of and into the tank 1 and terminates at a point above the normal liquid level thereof, as shown in the drawings. A gas outlet pipe 16 is extended through the top wall of the tank 4L to a point well within the tank and is connected with another unit, for example the unit B when more than one unit is used to make up V a plant.

The tank 4 is considerably larger than tank land has mounted therein an inverted container of preferably cylindrical form 17. The container 17 is held by suitable supporting brackets 18 in. circumferential spaced relation to the tank a and is spaced from the ends of the tank. The upper end of the container is closed while the lower is open and the pipe 3 extends through the and connects the pipe 3 with said tank. It a upper closed end of the container and terminates approximately centrally within the container. The lower end of the pipe 3 is flared as at 19 for a purpose to be later more fully described. A baffle plate 20 is secured within the container 17 by means of suitable brackets 21 and is spaced at its periphery from the walls of the "container, said bafile plate being disposed in a horizontal plane and being preferably of circular formation.

The periphery of the baffle plate is upturned as at 22 and a central deflecting ridge or upwardly extending portion 23 is provided and disposed directly beneath and in alinement a with the lower end of the pipe 3.

1 t is drawn therefrom and forced upwardly The:

through the pipe 9 into the tank' l. li uid fallin into the tank 1 in idl i flows 2: l n downwardly through the pipe-3 and in so doing with such rapidity causes the sulfur gas to be drawn downwardly through thepipe 3 into the container 17. Gas discharg ing from the flared end 19 of the pipe-3 against the baffle plate in the :form: of bub-- bles is caused to break and become absorbed by the liquid. The unabsorbed gas passes upwardly through the pipe 16 and is con ducted to another unit of the apparatus, for

example the one B. In order to break up the gas bubbles 1 provide a number of breakers 2% that comprise foraminous strips.

placed within the pipe 3 at spaced points therein. The gasdi'awn downwardly by the 1 water flowing through the pipe 3 in the form of bubbles is caused to be absorbed bythe liquid as the bubbles encounter the break:

ers 24:.

To provide for the gas being drawn intothe pipe 3, a plurality of suction tubes 25 are supported in a Vertical plane withinthe tank 1 by a circular supporting plate-26. 1

The plate 26 is supported by a suitable arm 27 in spaced relation to the bottom wall 2 and above the point of communication. with The tubes 25 extend tliroughg the plate and are arranged to discharge into. the pipe 3, the upper ends of the tubes being arranged above the normal liquid level of A frusto-conical mixing: cham-;

the pipe 3.

the tank 1. her 28 is secured to the wall 2 of the tank 1 will thus be seen that the down crush of liquid to the'chamber 28 into the pipe 3 I will cause a suction to be produced. in the pipes 25 and the gas or fumes to be drawn -5 throughthe tubes 25 into the chamber 28 from whence it will be conducted downwardly through the pipe 3 into the container 17 It will be readily seen that with a single unit of the apparatus liquid may be continuously sulfurized and absorption of the gases is had.

Whentwonnits are connected with the storage system as shown in Fig. lofthe drawingsrthe unit B which is provided with a gas discharge pipe 29 that is similar to the one 16 is connected with the unit A by means of the horizontal connecting pipe30 which is connected at its ends with the pipes 16. and 29. i

The storage unit C comprises an elongated vertically arranged tank 31 that is consid erably larger than the, tanks 4:.- The tank132,

similar to the tanks of the units A and'Bis arranged above the tank 31 and connected therewith by means of a pipe 33. The pipe 33 extends downwardly into the tank 31 and:

terminates at a-point adjacent to the lower end of said tank. The pipe 33 is connected with the tank 32 by means of a mixing chamber element 3% that issiinilar to the one 28 anda baffle plate 35 is mounted within! the 1 tank 31 and disposed below the dischargew end of thepipe A pump'36 is provided for the storagejunit and is connected iwitli the tank .31 by means of a pipe 37. Apipe 38 is connected with'thepump 36 anduppertank 32 of the storage unit and'is identical withthe pipe 9 of the unit A. An overflow pipe 139 is provided for the tanks 31 and '32:

of the storage unit C. This pipe 39 operates in the same manner as does the one 15.

branch pipe 41 connects the pipe 30 with the tank 32.

A ventor air escape pipe 40 is connected with the tank 31 at the upper end thereof A Thus it will be seen that the un-' absorbed gases in leaving the tanks 4: of -theunits A and-B is conducted by means of the 1 pipes 30 and 41 intothe tank32 of the unit" G and will be drawn-into storage tank 31 by lo the action of-falling liquid in the pipe 333 similarly to the operation of the unit A.

Pipes-42 and 13 connect the-tanks i of the "units A and'B with the tank 31 of the unit C at points adjacent the lower ends of said -tanks and-valves 44 are mounted in the pipes 12 and A3. The partlyfinished product that is contained within the tank 31 of the unit G is drained or allowed to flow into= thetank 4c of the units'A and B through the pipes The finished product is dis- 42 and 43. charged. at -16. By means of the pump -36 the liquid within the tank 31 is set ,circu-a lating and in so doing absorbs the gases which have been heretofore unabsorbed by the units A and-B. A horizontal connecting 1 pipe 15 is connected with the pipes 9 of the at apoint intermediate the ends thereofis a discharge pipe 46. Valves 4:7 and t 48 are unitsAandrB and leading from the pipe 45" arranged in the pipe 45 on opposite sides of the discharge pipe 46 and control the flow of finished product from the units A and B respectively.

Vith reference to the foregoing description it will be seen that with my improved apparatusthat the sulfur fumes will be absorbed readily by the solution kept circulating in the several units of the apparatus and sulfurous acid made.

My apparatus may be utilized for scrubbing gases so as to purify them as will be readily observed and for condensing purposes if desired.

The tanks 4 of the units A and B may be kept supplied with the desired solution when the device is used for making sulfurous acid by the tank 31 of the storage imit C. The tank 31 is considerably larger and is arranged above the tanks 4.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as claimed.

IVhat is claimed is 1. In an absorbing, condensing, and purifying apparatus, an upper closed tank, a closed tank arranged below the upper tank, a pipe communicating the tanks with one another, a gas feed pipe communicating with the upper tank and means to draw a liquid placed in the lower tank therefrom and conduct it to the upper tank whereby it will drop back into the lower tank through the pipe connecting the tanks.

2. In an absorbing, condensing and purioutlet pipe extending through the lower tank and communicating with the inverted container, said first named connecting pipe extending through the upper closed wall of the container and arranged to discharge into said container, a baffle plate arranged below the discharge end of said first named connecting pipe and within said inverted container, and a gas outlet pipe extending within said container and arranged for communication with the upper tank.

4. In an absorbing, condensing and purifying apparatus, tanks arranged one above the other, a pipe connecting the tanks, means for forcing the liquid from the lower tank upwardly into the upper tank whereby it will drain by force of gravity from the upper tank back into the lower tank, a gas or vapor inlet pipe connected with the upper tank whereby the gas is drawn downwardly by water flowing back into the lower tank from the upper tank, a second set of tanks, means to circulate liquid contained in the tanks and means carried by the first tank for conducting the unabsorbed gas or vapor in the lower of the first tanks to the. upper of the second set of tanks.

5. An absorbing, condensing and purifying apparatus including a storage tank, a plurality of closed upper tanks, a plurality of closed lower tanks, means to establish a communication between the lower tanks and some of the upper tanks and between the storage tank and one of the upper tanks, a gas pipe communicating with those of the upper tanks that are connected to the lower tanks, an overflow pipe connecting the upper tank with the lower and storage tanks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa- DENNIS-H. BUOKLEY, G. MAoKAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Paten s Washington, D. C. 

